Data handling system with rotatable fiber optic shutter

ABSTRACT

A visual data handling system incorporating a visual display device to provide an illuminated display of data. A printthrough device utilizing a matrix of light conducting elements transfers the illuminated display of data to a light responsive type printer. This illumination transfer can be selectively interrupted by a turn-off mechanism, which does this by maneuvering the print-through device. Also, the light conducting elements can incorporate lasing devices to intensify the illumination.

Camp et al. Nov. 25, 1975 {54] DATA HANDLING SYSTEM WITH 3,447 l385/l969 Carson et a! 340/l73 CQ ROTATABLE FIBER OPTIC SHUTTER 3,723,9773/1973 Schaufele 340/l73 PL 3,731,225 5/1973 Wild et al i i i i. 350/96B [75] In en r H r l E- mp. T i 3,737.367 6/l973 Roberts et al 350/96 aJohn D. Grier, Bridgeton, NJ. 3.752.994 8/1973 Grier et al 7. 350/96 B[73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, lnc., TOlBdO, Ohio FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [22} Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 l,946,693 8/l970 Germany N 350/968 [21] Appi. No.1 340,2[2

Primary Examiner-Stuart N4 Hecker [44] Published under the TrialVoluntary Protest AtmmelAwmor Firm DOnald Keith Wedding Program onJanuary 28 [975 as document no. B 340212.

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of N0 i970, Avisual data handling system incorporating a visual display device toprovide an illuminated display of data. A print-through device utilizinga matrix of light [52] conducting elements transfers the illuminateddisplay i i of data to a light responsive type printer. This illumi- [5HCH GUC 11/28; L J5 B il ;g6 nation transfer can be selectivelyinterrupted by a t ff [1 h' d t 581 Field at Search .4 350/96 B, i60 R;E2g gii igif g i ss t: 3x 5223132: 340/l73 [73 LT; 315/169 TV; 250/236elements can incorporate lasing devices to intensify the illumination.[56] References CIted UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures3,233,515 2/i966 Platzer et al 4. 350/267 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975wkVo/z DATA HANDLING SYSTEM WITH ROTATABLE FIBER OPTIC SHUTTER RELATEDAPPLICATION This is a division of copending United States patentapplication Ser. No. 574, filed Jan. 5, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No.3,749,487.

This invention relates to improvements in visual data handling systems.

Frequently, it is desired to preserve a visual display of information,such as data displayed on the viewing face of a gas discharge panel. Ifthe printer is to be located remotely of the panel or cannot be placedin contact with the panel because the contours of the panel and theprinter are incompatible, then a print-through provision is required.There can, however, be a substantial loss in illumination if the lighttransfer distances are great or if the print-through device cannot beplaced close enough to the panel. Then too, focal lengths must beconsidered if effective light transfer is to be achieved. Light turn-offis too a problem, particularly when it is preferred not to turn-off thevisual display, but still interrupt the transfer of the display to theprinter.

With the foregoing in mind, a new and different data handling system iscontemplated wherein visual information is transferred to a printer by aprint-through device incorporating a series of light conducting elementsand wherein the print-through device can be turned off.

Also contemplated is a visual data handling system utilizing, in anunusual way, lasers to achieve light intensification.

Other objectives include provision of a print-through device thatemploys a matrix of light conducting elements formed as a unitarystructure; that is adaptable for using fiber optic elements; that iseasily maneuverable to effect interruption of the illumination transfer;that facilitates contact print-out from a visual display regardless ofthe contour of the displays print-out face; that is easily adaptable foruse with many diverse types of printers; that can provide variable focallengths; and that can afford light intensification for improvedprintout.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a visual data handling systemincorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, partially schematic, of an embodimentof a visual data handling system similar to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially schematic, of anotherembodiment of the visual data handling system and is similar to the FIG.2 system but adapted for a drum type printer;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of thevisual data handling system;

FIG. 5 is a view of the FIG. 4 system looking in the direction of arrowsS-5 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views depicting variations in thestructures of print-through devices for the visual data handling system.

Referring to FIG. 1, the visual data handling system includes a visualdisplay device, which can be of any well known type, such as a gasdischarge panel shown generally at 10. The panel 10 provides both visualdisplay and data storage functions and has a viewing face 12 and anopposite print-out face 14. Operationally, the panel 10 is capable ofproviding at its viewing face 12 an illuminated pattern 16 ofinformation, such as numerals, words, letters, pictures, etc. Thepattern I6 illustrated is the letter Z." This same information appearsat the print-out face 14 and is transferred by a print-through device,designed generally at I8, for print-out by a printer, denoted by thenumeral 20, of a type that achieves print-out by being receptive tolight. Thus, the illuminated pattern 16 is transferred by theprint-through device I8 to the printer 20 where a record is made of thispattern 16.

The details of the gas discharge panel 10 are shown and described in theU.S. Pat. No. 3,499,l67 to Baker, et al. Therefore, for purposes ofunderstanding the invention only a brief explanation is made. Referringto FIG. 2, the gas discharge panel 10 includes spaced apart supportmembers or plates 22 and 24 formed of a polished commercially availablesoda lime plate glass so as to be optically transparent.

The support plates 22 and 24 have thereon conductor arrays 26 and 28respectively. These conductor arrays 26 and 28 are at right angles toeach other but they may have any other appropriate transverse relativeorientation so as to provide at the intersection a series ofcross-points 30 as viewed in FIG. 1. If wanted a conductor array couldbe in the form of a conductive coating covering the entire face of oneor both of the support plates 22 and 24. The arrays 26 and 28 are madefrom a material that is a good conductor, such as copper, gold, silveror aluminum. If optical transparency is required, then tin-oxide, goldor aluminum could be used.

The conductor arrays 26 and 28 are spaced from a gas discharge chamber32 by dielectric members 34 and 36. These dielectric members 34 and 36can be in the form of a film or coating which is optically transparent,such as a low melting glass material. Spacers 38 of a similar materialseparate the dielectric members 34 and 36 and establish the desired gapspacing.

The chamber 32 contains, at the proper operating pressure, a gaseousmixture capable of being discharged upon application of a firingpotential to selected conductors of the arrays 26 and 28. The gasmixture may consist of a neon gas as a major constituent and smalleffective amount of at least one minor constituent selected from argon,krypton or xenon, in an amount to provide a Penning mixture.

An appropriate driving and addressing circuit 40 is connected to theconductor arrays 26 and 28. Exemplary of a circuit for this purpose isthat shown and described in U.S. application Ser. No. 699,170 to Johnsonet al., filed Jan. I9, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,071.

The panel 10 operates according to the principle that an electricbreakdown of a gas, containing one or more free charge carriers,particularly electrons, occurs when a sufficient electric field isapplied to the gas. Therefore, when the driving and addressing circuit40 is rendered operative, it will supply an operating voltage, whichwill include a write-in voltage pulse, representing the information tobe entered, and a sustaining voltage. Assuming that this operatingpotential is increasing during its positive half-cycle, there will be acorrespondingly increasing electric field applied across the chamber 32at the selected crosspoints 30. This electric field will accelerate anyfree electrons and ions present to initiate collisions with the gasmolecules and with the dielectric member surfaces. This activity createsadditional electrons and ions which are accelerated by the electricfield and ultimately there is an electron avalanche resulting in anelectric breakdown of the gas or a gas discharge.

The visual glow from these gas discharges results from the electron-ionrecombination and the return of the excited gas molecules to the groundstate accompanied by the emission of photons of light. These gasdischarges portray the information that is to be writtenin by thedriving and addressing circuit 40.

in FIG. I only those cross-points 30 forming the letter Z will have thewrite-in voltage pulse supplied to the corresponding conductors of thearrays 26 and 28 to provide the gas discharges and the illumination foroutlining the letter Z. During each halfcycle of the operating potentialthe gas discharges extinguish but now charges have accumulated on thesurfaces of the di electric members 34 and 36 and are available forfacilitating the discharge during the next half-cycle. These accumulatedcharges and the electric field assistance they provide enable the nextdischarge to be initiated with a lower applied potential. The write-involtage, therefore, can be removed and the written-in information willcontinue to be displayed with just the sustaining voltage alone. Hence,the panel 10 has a memory capability which is very useful for datastorage purposes.

As mentioned the print-through device 18 functions to transfer theillumination from the print-out face 14 of the panel 10 to the printer20. The print-through device 18 can be of many different cross-sectionalshapes; e.g., the same shape as the panel 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 orannular as shown in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 theprint-through device 18 is formed with a matrix of light conductingelements, each as signed the numeral 42. These light conducting elements42 can be of different cross-sectional shapes, such as the hexagonalshape seen in FIG. 6 or the round shape portrayed in FIG. 7. The lightconducting elements 42 are preferably imbedded in glass to provide aunitary construction and are each aligned with one of the cross-points30. If cross illumination at the ends of the elements 42 is a concern, aglass can be selected that is an inefficient light conductor orincapable of conducting light. In FIG. 6 each light conducting element42 is shown with a solid core 44, which can be made of glass or plastic.and has a jacket 46 of an appropriate nonhght conducting material; eg,DuPont's Alathon polythylenc resin to prevent cross-illumination betweenthe adjacent light conducting elements 42. If preferred fiber strands 48can be employed, as illustrated in FIG. 7. These fiber strands 48,commonly referred to as, fiber optics can be any commercially availabletype; for instance, Crofon light guides made by the DuPont Co. Each ofthe fiber strands 48 can be made of Lucite polymethyl methacrylate andsheathed with a polymer of lower refractive index. The fiber strands 48are bundled together in multiples of 16, 32, 48 or 64 within the jacket46. To reproduce the pattern 14, the fiber strands 48 are coherentlybundled, i.e., the fiber strands 48 are in the same relative position atboth ends of the matrix.

The print-through device 18 can have its input face 50 or its outputface or both shaped to conform to the respective surfaces of the paneland the printer 20. e.g., as shown in FIG. 3. Also the input face 50 can4 be in physical contact with the print-out face 14 of the panel 10 andthe output face 51 in contact with the printer 20. This latter contactwill be determined by the printer's construction and type. Of course,focal lengths will have to be properly selected for optimum lighttransfer.

To increase the light intensification, the FIG. 8 construction can beutilized. In this construction the light conducting elements 42 eachhave within the core 44 a laser or lasing device 52 formed of asemiconductor material, e.g., neodymium glass. The lasing device 52 canbe of conventional construction with the ends mirror coated except thatthe output end; i.e., the end adjacent printer 20 has a lighter mirrorcoating. The space between the jacket 46 and the sides of the lasingdevice 52 is either filled with glass, plastic or fiber optic elements48 to supply illumination to the side of the lasing device 52 to createthe pumping action. The input ends of the light conducting elements 42,except for the lasing devices 52, should be blocked or treated so as tonot transfer any illumination. Also, if fiber optic elements 48 are usedthey can be randomly arranged. Because, for the reasons mentioned, theillumination from the panel 10 will be pulsating, the atoms within thelasing device 52, which are at ground state, will be excited to higherenergy levels by absorbtion of the pulsating optical energy suppliedthereto along the sides of the lasing device 52 from the panel 10. Whenthese excited atoms return to their ground state, there will be anemission of photons of energy. When this emission is parallel to thelength of the lasing device 52, a collision occurs with another atom andit is stimulated to emit a photon of energy exactly in phase andtravelling in the same direction as the bombarding photon. This actionin developing coherent photons will be repeated many times to developadditional coherent photons, which will be reflected back and forthbetween the mirrored ends of the lasing device 52. This chain reactionwill continue until there is a substantial build-up ofin-phase opticalenergy within the lasing device 52. When sufficient photon energy hasbeen developed it will burst through the lighter mirrored end of thelasing device 52 in the form ofa useful laser beam and will be suppliedto the printer 20. Thus, the lasing device 52 in the FIG. 8 embodimentconverts light energy from the panel 10 to short duration high energylight bursts or pulses. The process is continuously repeated to developsubsequent pulses of laser energy. These pulses of laser energy enableillumination to be transferred over longer distances and also, ifaconcern, will reduce exposure time since these high energy pulses have ashort duration.

To enable the transfer of illumination by the printthrough device 18 tobe interrupted without deenergizing the panel 10, a turn-off mechanismdenoted generally by the numeral 54 is provided. As illustrated in FIG.2, the turn-off mechanism 54 includes a sealing member such as a hollowrubber ring 56, which is interposed between the panel 10 and theprint-through device 18. The ring 56 extends around the exterior of theprint-out device 18 between its input face and the exterior of thepanels print-out face 16 so as to not interfere with the transfer ofillumination therebetween. The ring 56 defines a gap space 58 which hasfluid tight communication with a reservoir 60 containing a lightabsorbing fluid, this fluid can be water, heptane, or the like. When,for example, the print-out device 18 is moved towards the panel 10,fluid within the gap space 58 will be returned to the reservoir 60 dueto the increase in the pressure in the gap space 58. Therefore, thetransfer of illumination is permitted since the light absorbing fluidwill be removed from the gap space 58 and returned to the reservoir 60.When the printthrough device 18 is retracted or moved to increase thegap space 58, the difference in pressure will cause the fluid to flowfrom the reservoir 60 into the gap space 58 and prevent the transfer ofillumination between the panel and the print-through device 18.

Under some circumstances, the efficiency of the light absorbing fluidmay not be necessary. For instance, the focal lengths of the lightconducting elements 42 may be such that when the print-through device 18is in the non light-transferring position, light transfer is inadequatefor printing.

Either the panel 10 or the print-through device 18 can be moved in manydifferent ways as those versed in the art will appreciate. In FIG. 2 theprint through device 18 is moved by ball and screw mechanism 62 of wellknown construction. This mechanism 62 is driven by a reversible motor 64of any appropriate construction and may be electrically or hydraulicallyoperated.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a different type of turn-off mechanism denoted by thenumeral 54' is illustrated. This turn off mechanism 54' has spacedguideways 66 which support the print-through device 18 for rotationalmovement. This rotational movement can be, as with the turn-offmechanism 54, by a ball and screw mechanism 62' and a reversible motor64'. Keeping in mind that each of the light conducting elements 42 isaligned with one of the cross-points 30, when light transferinterruption is wanted, then by rotating the printthrough device 18slightly, misalignment occurs and light transfer stops. Thismisalignment shows in FIG. 5 some of the light conducting elements 42 intheir solid line position, aligned with the cross-points 30. Slightangular rotation of the print-through device 18 moves these lightconducting elements 42 to the broken line position so as to be displacedfrom and out of alignment with the cross-points 30, thus, interruptingthe light transfer. As will be appreciated the spacing of the lightconducting elements 42 will have to be selected so that upon slightangular movement of the print-through device 18 none of the lightconducting elements 42 is aligned with one of the crosspoints 30 butaligned with the area of the print-through device 18 between the lightconducting elements 42. This area, if glass, should not conduct lighteither by being opaque or of a focal length such that the lighttransferred is inadequate for print-out purposes.

By slight modification of the guideways 66, as will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art, the rotational movement of theprint-through device 18 can be converted to a combination of rotary andrectilinear motion, or any other kind of single plane movement if wantedand required to interrupt the light transfer. Also be providing theguideways 66 with arcuate tracks multiplane movement can be achieved.

The printer 20 can be of any well known kind that responds toillumination. For example, the printer 20 can have an array ofphotoconductive elements, such as photocells, photodiodes, or the like,each of which would be aligned with and responsive to illumination fromone of the light conducting elements 42. Also, the printer 20 can be ofthe photoreceptive type incorporating a photosensitive material on aflat or annular surface. If of the latter photoreceptive type, theprinting or reproduction can be done by any of the usual reproducingprocesses, which will, in turn, determine the photosensitive material tobe used; for instance, selenium to carry out the xerography process,zinc-oxide for the Electrofax process, or silver halide for the photographic process. Also, ultra-violet light sensitive paper could be usedif the panel 10 emits sufficient optical energy in this frequency rangeof the electromagnetic spectrum,

If an annular surface is preferred, then the printer 20 could utilize,as in FIG. 3, a drum 68. The FIG. 3 embodiment includes an appropriateerasing device which will emit an erasing light that is compatible withthe sensitivity of the material on the drum 68 so as to destroy or erasewhatever image has been developed by the photosensitive material on thesurface of the drum 68. Furthermore by utilizing the drum 68, theprocess can be continuous and a suitable scanner 72 or the likepositioned ahead of the erasing device 70 can read the image on the drum68 as it passes.

In operation, the panel 10 is first operated by the driving andaddressing circuit 40 to generate the Z shaped pattern 16. Next eitherthe turn-off mechanism 54 or the turnoff mechanism 54 is adjusted tostart the transfer of illumination. In FIG. 2 the turn-off mechanism 54moves the print-through device 18 close to the print-out face 14 of thepanel 10 and in FIG. 5 the turn-off mechanism 54 aligns the lightconducting elements 42 with the cross-points 30. The pattern 14 willthen be transferred to the printer 20. If there is a need for lightamplification, then the lasing devices 52 can be incorporated in theprint-through device 18.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, in accordance with theinvention the visual data handling system can be more compact becausethe print-through device 18 can be in close spaced relation with boththe panel 10 and the printer 20. Also the problems with variablecontours on the panel's print-out face 14 and the printer 20 issubstantially reduced with the printthrough device 18. The remotepositioning of the printer 20 does not preclude the efiicient transferof light. If intensification is needed, the lasing devices 52 can beused and they will also reduce exposure times.

We claim:

1. In combination, a visual display device having a print-out face and aplurality of spaced illumination generating means which can beselectively operated to provide an illuminated pattern on said print-outface, each illumination generating means being arranged to illuminate afixed location on said print-out face, printout means having a surfacesensitive to illumination and operative to make a record of anilluminated pattern on said print-out face, print-through meansinterposed between said print-out face of the visual display device andsaid illumination sensitive surface of the print-out means fortransferring an illuminated pattern from said print-out face to saidillumination sensitive surface, said print-through means including aplurality of adjacent elongated light conducting elements, each havingan input and an output end and arranged to transfer a portion of theilluminated pattern, the input end of each element being positioned toregister with one of said fixed locations on said print-out face toreceive the illumination from one of said illumination generating meansin said display device representing a portion of a pattern and theoutput end of each element being positioned to transfer the illuminationrepresenting a portion of the pattern to a corresponding location on theillumination sensitive surface of the print-out means, whereby acomplete pattern may be transferred from said print-out face to saidillumination sensitive surface, and turn-off means for selectivelyinterrupting the transfer of said pattern and adapted to rotate saidprint-through means about an axis parallel to said elongated lightconducting elements between a position where the input ends of all saidlight conducting elements register with said fixed locations on saidprintout face and another position where said input ends of all saidlight conducting elements are out of register with said fixed locationson said print-out face, whereby the transfer of illumination may beselectively interrupted.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 wherein the light conductingelements each include a fiber optic member and a non-light conductingjacket housing the fiber optic member, the light conducting elementsbeing all in parallel alignment within a matrix of supporting material.

3. A combination as described in claim 1 wherein each light conductingelement includes a lasing device arranged therein, the lasing devicebeing operative in response to illumination to the light conductingelements to intensify the illumination.

4. The combination as described in claim 3 wherein the light conductingelements each include a fiber optic member and a non-light conductingjacket housing for the fiber optic member.

5. In combination, a gas discharge panel having a print-out faceprovided with a plurality of fixed locations selectively energizable soas to become illuminated to present an illuminated pattern of desiredinformation, print-out means having a surface sensitive to illuminationand operative to make a record of an illuminated pattern on saidprint-out face, print-through means interposed between said print-outface and said illumination sensitive surface and including a matrix ofcoherently arranged light conducting elements, each having an input endthereof positioned to register with one of said fixed locations on saidprint-out face and an output end thereof positioned adjacent saidillumination sensitive surface of the print-out means, so as to transferthe illuminated pattern to the print-out means, the print-through meansalso including turn-off means for predeterminately alternatelyinterrupting and initiating the transfer of illumination by theprint-through means, the turn-off means including means to rotate saidprint-through means about an axis parallel to said light conductingelements between a position where the input ends of all said lightconducting elements register with said fixed locations on said print-outface and another position where said input ends of all said lightconducting elements are out of register with said fixed locations onsaid print-out face, whereby the transfer of illumination may beinterrupted.

6. The combination as described in claim 5 wherein the light conductingelements each include a fiber optic member and a non-light conductingjacket housing the fiber optic member, the light conducting elementsbeing all in parallel alignment within a matrix of supporting material.

7. A combination as described in claim 5 wherein each light conductingelement includes a lasing device arranged therein, the lasing devicebeing operative in response to illumination to the light conductingelements to intensify the illumination.

8. The combination as described in claim 7 wherein the light conductingelements each include a fiber optic member and a non-light conductingjacket housing for the fiber optic member.

* III I

1. In combination, a visual display device having a print-out face and aplurality of spaced illumination generating means which can beselectively operated to provide an illuminated pattern on said print-outface, each illumination generating means being arranged to illuminate afixed location on said print-out face, print-out means having a surfacesensitive to illumination and operative to make a record of anilluminated pattern on said print-out face, print-through meansinterposed between said print-out face of the visual display device andsaid illumination sensitive surface of the print-out means fortransferring an illuminated pattern from said print-out face to saidillumination sensitive surface, said print-through means including aplurality of adjacent elongated light conducting elements, each havingan input and an output end and arranged to transfer a portion of theilluminated pattern, the input end of each element being positioned toregister with one of said fixed locations on said print-out face toreceive the illumination from one of said illumination generating meansin said display device representing a portion of a pattern and theoutput end of each element being positioned to transfer the illuminationrepresenting a portion of the pattern to a corresponding location on theillumination sensitive surface of the print-out means, whereby acomplete pattern may be transferred from said print-out face to saidillumination sensitive surface, and turn-off means for selectivelyinterrupting the transfer of said pattern and adapted to rotate saidprint-through means about an axis parallel to said elongated lightconducting elements between a position where the input ends of all saidlight conducting elements register with said fixed locations on saidprint-out face and another position where said input ends of all saidlight conducting elements are out of register with said fixed locationson said print-out face, whereby the transfer of illumination may beselectively interrupted.
 2. The combination as described in claim 1wherein the light conducting elements each include a fiber optic memberand a non-light conducting jacket housing the fiber optic member, thelight conducting elements being all in parallel alignment within amatrix of supporting material.
 3. A combination as described in claim 1wherein each light conducting element includes a lasing device arrangedtherein, the lasing device being operative in response to illuminationto the light conducting elements to intensify the illumination.
 4. Thecombination as described in claim 3 wherein the light conductingelements each include a fiber optic member and a non-light conductingjacket hOusing for the fiber optic member.
 5. In combination, a gasdischarge panel having a print-out face provided with a plurality offixed locations selectively energizable so as to become illuminated topresent an illuminated pattern of desired information, print-out meanshaving a surface sensitive to illumination and operative to make arecord of an illuminated pattern on said print-out face, print-throughmeans interposed between said print-out face and said illuminationsensitive surface and including a matrix of coherently arranged lightconducting elements, each having an input end thereof positioned toregister with one of said fixed locations on said print-out face and anoutput end thereof positioned adjacent said illumination sensitivesurface of the print-out means, so as to transfer the illuminatedpattern to the print-out means, the print-through means also includingturn-off means for predeterminately alternately interrupting andinitiating the transfer of illumination by the print-through means, theturn-off means including means to rotate said print-through means aboutan axis parallel to said light conducting elements between a positionwhere the input ends of all said light conducting elements register withsaid fixed locations on said print-out face and another position wheresaid input ends of all said light conducting elements are out ofregister with said fixed locations on said print-out face, whereby thetransfer of illumination may be interrupted.
 6. The combination asdescribed in claim 5 wherein the light conducting elements each includea fiber optic member and a non-light conducting jacket housing the fiberoptic member, the light conducting elements being all in parallelalignment within a matrix of supporting material.
 7. A combination asdescribed in claim 5 wherein each light conducting element includes alasing device arranged therein, the lasing device being operative inresponse to illumination to the light conducting elements to intensifythe illumination.
 8. The combination as described in claim 7 wherein thelight conducting elements each include a fiber optic member and anon-light conducting jacket housing for the fiber optic member.